FREE SCHOOLS

Free Schools & Free Space

[Note:”Free Spaces” are communal facilities specially designated as “spaces” in which kids who shun school can retreat to relax or socialize but they do not provide the supporting staff or activities that are offered by the “free schools”]

Free schools are often thought of in Japan as schools where troubled kids or “futoko” or school-refusing children are sent when they fail to fit into the conventional public or private school system in Japan. However, some of the schools function as valid schools that offer an “alternative education” to the mainstream schools and are sought after by parents for their unique educational concepts and in their own right.

Scroll down below for the following:

A feature written on one of these “freedom schools” Jiyu Gakuen that offers its unique Seikatsu curriculum.

Tokyo Shure, one of Japan’s most famous free schools, and its new middle schools and university

Nationwide listing of Free Schools & Free Spaces

New free school in the news

JIYU GAKUEN & ITS UNIQUE “SEIKATSU” (LIFESTYLE) CURRICULUM by Lisa

My sons attended a group called Seikatsudan, which follows the Seikatsudan curriculum offered at Jiyugakuen (the Freedom School) in Hibarigaoka. Seikatsudan began more than 50 years ago, and many mothers/fathers of the children that attended with my sons also attended Seikatsudan themselves. According to these parents, Seikatsudan hasn’t changed at all over time!

There were many unique things about Seikatsudan. First of all, children met only once a week in the first year and twice or three times in the second and third years.* Language-wise, it was probably not the best way for my boys to pick up Japanese; their ability in Japanese progressed slowly over three years. However, by their “graduation,” they could speak comfortably with their friends and teachers, and the transition to Japanese elementary school was very smooth.

The atmosphere at Seikatsudan was unlike anything I have witnessed anywhere else! The emphasis was on “children as leaders,” and children were encouraged to follow routines and remember basic tasks with as little guidance as possible from adults. (This was often a tough concept for a hands-on mom!) Children were offered ample time to think things out and complete their tasks — I was often amazed at how patient the teachers were with the kids!

Since the children met only once or twice a week at the actual school, they brought home reward charts to do on the other days at home. At first, the program seemed to me to require little commitment, with the other days at home wide open for other activities. Over time, especially with my second son I realized the importance of the simple life the school promoted, focussing on getting up/getting to bed early, eating four meals a day, making homemade food, etc.

The children also were responsible for taking care of animals: love birds in the first year, guinea pigs in the second year and homing pigeons in the third year. The final year was truly unique as the class raised baby pigeons and “trained” them to return to the school by taking them to parks and releasing them. (MOST of them made it back!)

One other thing that was unique was that the children all took “solfage” (do-re-mi) together at the school as well as piano lessons. One of the days that the children met was thus “music day.” For us, this was wonderful! Had we attended a regular kindergarten, I’m not sure that we would have had the time or made the time for piano/music lessons.

I suppose the last thing I should mention is that Seikatsudan required an enormous commitment on the part of the mothers. We had many responsibilities at the school — cooking lunch, deciding menus, taking care of animals, babysitting sibings, cleaning, setting up/taking things down, sewing …. Most of my friends thought I was crazy for continuing with such a regime, but over five years I learned so much about myself, my kids, Japan, wa-shoku, people. I didn’t fully realize how intense the program was until my kids were finished!!

Seikatsudan is also different from Tomoe Gakuen, the school that Totto-chan (Tetsuko Kuroyanagi) attended, as written in the book Little Girl at the Window. (A great read if you haven’t read it yet — my boys loved that story!)

Jiyugakuen (the Freedom School, grade 1 through high school and women’s college) and Seikatsudan (the “yochien” counterpart) were begun by Hani Motoko-sensei, an educator, journalist and Christian socialist, and her husband. At the same time, Hani-sensei also started the women’s group Tomo no kai, which still exists all over Japan today, and the monthly magazine Fujin no Tomo. Hani-sensei also wrote articles on child rearing and education, which were compiled into numerous books. These books are still widely read and used at Jiyugakuen and by Tomo no kai and Seikatsudan.

The original Jiyugakuen building, located in Mejiro, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a friend of Mr. and Mrs. Hani. The building became too small and the school was relocated to the Hibarigaoka campus. The original building, truly a work of art, still stands and is used for meetings and weddings; both my sons practiced for their undokai on the front lawn! Tours are also offered. You can see photos of the original building here.

Seikatsudan has 14 locations throughout Japan (including one at the Hibarigaoka campus), mostly in larger cities such as Sapporo, Tokyo (Setagaya), Nagoya, Kobe, Yokohama, Osaka, etc. You can find out more information on the “program” and locations here.

I noticed that the Seikatsudan at Jiyugakuen in Hibarigaoka will change from meeting once/twice a week to every day (Monday to Friday) from next year. How sad that this changing … after almost 70 years! I know that some parents wanted their kids to have the chance to attend every day, but meeting once or twice a week was exactly the reason why I chose Seikatsudan rather than the local yochien or hoikuen.

Lisa.

JIYU-GAKUEN (preschool – college ) Sapporo, Tokyo (Setagaya), Nagoya, Kobe, Yokohama, Osaka. For preschool locations listed here For other school locations, phone: 078-241-9213 or contact viaemail them for a listing.
Seikatsu activities can be observed at these pages here and here. For a Seikatsu curriculum overview see this page.
More info here; For the yochien group see this website. You can also join the e-list seikatsudan@yahoogroups.jp by sending an email to their list

The other school with info featured below is TOKYO SHURE which is probably the most famous free school in the nation catering to truant and school-refusing children (known as “futoko”).
TOKYO SHURE
1-9-19 Kishimachi, Kita-ku, Tokyo 114-0021
Phone : 03-5993-3135, 3136 Fax: 03-5993-3137

There is a 10,000 fee for the first five visits to check out any of their three spaces. If you decide to join, there is a one time startup membership fee of 153,000 yen. In addition, there is a monthly fee of 45,000 yen. If you only go 2 or 3 times a month, there is a special monthly fee of 15,000 yen. In addition, parents or guardians must pay a one time fee of 20,000 yen and an annual fee (each April through the following March) of 10,000.That adds up to about $7,000 per year which is about what most private schools in the US charge and is cheaper than private schools here I think so if your child went full time that would be expensive but not totally unreasonable. If they didn’t go often it would be prohibitive I would think. – Jill
For more info in English, click here. Tokyo Shure also operates a branch organisation called Home Shure that is a network supporting homeschooling families; as well as the Shure University that opened in 1999, catering for Tokyo Shure’s graduates who wish to carry on higher learning.

Plan proposed to teach truants / Pioneer of free-school movement to open special school in Tokyo – The Yomiuri Shimbun

Tokyo Shure free school, which has been operating in the Tokyo metropolitan area for 20 years, plans to open a middle school for truant students in spring 2007 in a disused municipal primary school in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo.

Keiko Okuchi, 64, who is a representative of Tokyo Shure, started her teaching career at the school, Shonan Primary School, in 1963.

The ward government was happy to agree to the plan presented by Okuchi because it would put the school, which closed four years ago, to use as well as doing something to tackle truancy.

By law, school grounds and buildings have to be owned by a school corporation. But to realize Tokyo Shure’s plan, the ward will ask the central government in January to permit the establishment of a private school in a former public school building rented in a designated structural reform district.

Looking back more than 40 years, Okuchi recalled her days at Shonan Primary School.

“I remember all the enjoyable times I had there, even after all this time,” Okuchi said.
Okuchi went on to teach at several other primary schools. But it was her experience with her eldest son that made Okuchi think about opening a special school for truants. At school he was bullied, and became a truant student himself.
Okuchi resigned from teaching at public schools and established Tokyo Shure in 1985. The pioneer of the Japanese free-school movement, Tokyo Shure was certified as a nonprofit organization in 1999. Since then, more than 1,000 graduates have passed through its gates.

In Britain, New Zealand and the United States, free schools are recognized on an equal footing with other schools, and some receive public money.

In comparison, free schools in Japan are considered halfway houses for problem students before they return to more-traditional schools.

Okuchi strongly believes that free schools should be positioned alongside traditional schools to make children feel proud of going to them. She said she is proud of having helped raised the status of free schools to a level comparable with traditional schools.

“I’m so glad because my dream will be realized at Shonan Primary School, of which I have many memories,” she said.
The new school will limit class sizes to about 40 students for each grade, and it will be run in the same way as Tokyo Shure.

It will be up to the students whether they attend the school, and they will have some freedom in the activities they pursue. Work experience and volunteer activities will be included in the school program.

“Children must first feel relaxed to study. I don’t deny the [value of the] current school system, but I’d like to make a school in which truant students can fulfill their potential in a good environment,” Okuchi said.

The Katsushika Ward government has asked Tokyo Shure to give preference to admitting students living in the ward as a condition of renting the free school the old school building.

Kenichi Oshio of the Katsushika Ward Education Board said, “We welcome the new school as it will increase options for truant students and their parents in the ward.”
(Oct. 22, 2005)

LISTING OF FREE SCHOOLS & FREE SPACES (there are 240 free schools that are members of the Japan Free School Association)

Tomoe Gakuen / Rose Yochien / Kita Osaka group of free schools that emphasizes the importance of awareness with nature and one’s environment, cultivating the free and independent as well as right civic values.

Researched by Watanabe Reiko

In The News: “International kids to get free school”, The Japan Times: May 29, 2005

A nonprofit group promoting multiculturalism will open a free school next month in Arakawa Ward, Tokyo, for foreign
children or Japanese children who have a limited command of the Japanese language due to being raised by non-Japanese
parents, group officials said Saturday.

The Center for Multicultural Information & Assistance took the step to help children aged 16 or older who do not qualify for the free public education and those who have trouble adjusting to Japanese schools after finishing junior high school overseas, they said.

Because of their poor command of Japanese, these children often end up failing high school entrance exams or even becoming socially withdrawn, the officials said.

“We want the children to maximize their talents to triumph in their lives, even though it seems difficult now,” said Wang Huijin, the group’s representative.